Cover construction for kitchen utensils



May 18, 1948.

. A F. CURTIS ErAl.V 441568.84v

v COVER CONSTRUCTION FOR AKITCHE 'UTENSILS Filed Jlully 2l, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 18, 1948` A. F. CURTIS Er Al. 2,441,688

COVER CONS'lRUCTTON FOR KITCHEN UTENSILS Filed July 2l, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 :Snventors May 18, 1948. A F. cURTls ET Al. 2,441,688

COVER CONSTRUCTION FOR KITCHEN UTENSILS Filed July 2l, 1945 4' Sheets-'Sheet 5 Q ffedmfm @Rm www May 18,1948.4

A. F. CUR-ns ET Al. 2,441,688

COVER CONSTRUCTION FOR KITCHEN UTENSILS Filed July 21, 1945 4 sheets-sheet 4- .......niil.m1-@gummi Z5 IN VEN TORS Patented May 18, i 1948 i 1 STAT Esi PATELNr-i .Y I v2,441,683@Y CVR uCOlTS'IRLITCTION FOR YKI'ICHN Y UTENsms' p Alma-1111; ourtisrNurth cantan,rranaraurc.

Rorck, Canton; '0hio, assignors to The Re-f 'A .public Stamping AtEnameling' Company, Ganr` tom-Ohio, a'corporation ofi-Ohio `Application a'ul'y'Zl, 1945,"Sferal No. 606.438 'f l (Cl.-220i-59^) y 9V Claims'. Y n1 f The invention relates-*generally 'to *kitchen utensils for containing-liquids. such as pots, pans; and; 'cooking' vessels,A and' more particularly `v`to an improved vcover` construction therefor;l by

which theI cover isheldkin place when thecontents of vthe vessel lare poured. l

Numerous prior `cover `Vvccnstruc'tionsf or ves sels have been' p'roposedftoy retain the vcover in -place-v-vvhileLk pouring, but 'all o'these lprior lcon'- str-notions have certa-'in'disadvaalntages. -;For example,- common teapot v-cover construction 1includesthe provision oid-ianietrically opposite'in- Wa-rdly project-ing' ears on'tlie` rr1o11th `ci the pot, which overlap the. edge-'ol thercover. In order that :the cover may `be "easily inserted under these ears, 'its dependingriian'ge mustlbe much'A smaller thanv the pct mouth With-t'hef vresult e that lthe cover has a loosevor sloppy? lit "and rattleseasily. -A variationy o"f this .constructionrislto' provide notches in the edge of the'-coverftoreglst'er"with the-ears,-so that the cover'rnaybe put'onleasily, lout vit must-be turned -or twisteditoengage under the Aears. It is' a commonloccurrence with this 'construction-'for fthe vhousei'viie to -fo'i'get to 'turn the ccverafter it-is in place, with' the result th'at the cover falls oi when pouring, oiten-causing serious mishaps not 'only to the-fccver"lout4 to 'china-Ware Land thelike o'nwhichit falls.

Another prior construction -includestlfie :provi- 4sicnfcif a Wide v cverhanging flange lon vthe? pouring side of the-circular mouth-of avessel'y andafcorresponding rib or projecticn'on" the cover ftting under said iiange. With 'this constructiongfin orderlfthat v'the `coverfmay be -putfin 'placefon or removed ffromthe'mouth ci the vessel, in'ot only must it have va loose t -With 'the mouth,v butthe llip can only extend over about one-third-of the circumference of thefcover. Thus, when thelvessel lis jtilted-to lapproach van upside down lp'os'ition for draining 'its contents, tlecover Willvfallioff because only about -one-third-of its vlower circumference is heldby'the ange.

It isi'toi be :noted'that the *provision of inwardly projecting ears-or anoverhangingl flange on tltfe f `turing cost,l particularly in the c'a'seof sheet metal have a loose "ftl'in -orderit'o VIce inserted or V`removed, and moreovensuch projections vare fre- :2 c Y quently Vleent-.for broken-'in handling so 'as to precludeiproperifunctioning thereof. .f

-All of 'these VpriorconstructionsY have fbeen'- so unsatisfactory th'atlit :is fcormnonfpractic'e'to provide a fhinged coverA on fcertain ffkitchenwessels such! fas coffee"ip'ercolators, which ",increasesithe manufacturing cost and also makes it more :dimcultllto' Washy the .pot-'and cover.

It 'i's'anobj ect of thelpresentzinvention -rto g provide ainovel-cover construction'for afkitchen wessel, in which the cover is easily insertedinto :and

removed'` `from thefvessel mouth land willlfnotffall out when the? vesserds tilted-fior pouring. i

infg cover construction in whichV the fvessel lmay be tilted to substantiallyV upside-down 'position without 'thefcover falling off; i Y

Another object is to provide a-nove'lvv self-lockingcover .construc'tio'nin which the/:cover has a substantally tlghtttfwith theivessel mouth vat' all times. A further 4,object lis to .providefa novel cover construction in which the .cover-isreasily inserted into v.the locking positioniln the vessel mouth, Without requiring turning of the cover to .flock or unlock the same. Y

Another-objectisftoprovide a1nove1 cover con struction Whlhisfeasily'adapted for use :in con- -nec'tion` with va n.standard :sheet metal vessel, withoutfrquirlnglthe addition" of earsor other projections thereto." f Y 5A sti-llfurther object is toiprovidefamovel -cover construction in which the cover can 'be applied to the'fvessellinione :position only, bis self.locking -Iin that positionand is' easily andV quickly-removedfromthat position. Y

Also, it is anfobjectfof the present`r invention 'to `eliminate l'hmg'es-:fin ,-providing-;acover which maybe secured tto" afkitchen'utensil. i p

Moreover, it is an object of the 4present inventionto provideta .new shapeand-'contour Yfor `.the mouth Tand-'coverfol ya VvVesselformingaI-seli-locking'cover construction.-V Y Y Firial1y,'it Vis an "object :of lthewpresent invention to provide a novel cover construction for akit'chen vessels `which 4overcomes fthe' fdisadvan- 'tages of prior constructions,V which .attains Yall .-of`

the foregoing desiderata, and whichds andLin'expensivetomanufacture l These :an'd futher: obj ects and advantagesapparent'ito' those 'skilled :in wthe art'irom--the 7ioli'loiving description and --claims -xnayube sobtained, the stated results achievedpiandthefdescrlbed simple -vd'ifl'cultiesr- :overcomev by the; devices-,-construc tions; arrangements; combinations,sub-combinations, parts, and elements which comprise the present invention, the nature of which is set forth in the following general statement, preferred embodiments of which-illustrative of the loest modes in which applicants have contemplated applying the principle-are set forth in the following description and shown in the drawings, and which are particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims forming part hereof.

The nature of the improvements of the present invention may be stated in general terms as including in a vessel having a mouth, an inner bead extending around substantially one-half only of the periphery of said mouth on the pouring side of the vessel, the other half of said periphery being distorted to produce a mouth of substantially oval shape, a matching cover having aV depending flange shaped for closely and telescopi-v cally tting in said mouth and a groove on the flange for engaging under said bead throughout its length, there being suiicient clearance between the flange and mouth throughout the distorted half 'of its periphery as by tapering the flange to allow removal of the cover by a combined lateral and upward tilting movement thereof.

By way of example, preferred embodiments of the improved cover construction are illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a sheet metal coffee percolator embodying the invention, the cover being of the glass insert type;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view similar to Figure 1 showing an all-glass cover;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the coffee percolator shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to Fig. 1, on a reduced scale, with the cover and ground coffee basket removed;

Fig. 5 is a plan sectional view taken substantially on line 5 5, Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a plan elevational view as on line -6, Fig. 4;

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary sectional view as on line 1 1, Fig. 6, showing an all-glass cover in position in the mouth of the Vessel;

Fig. 8 is a plan elevational view on a reduced scale of the all-glass cover shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 9 is a side elevation thereof;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view thereof as on line Ill-I0, Fig. 8;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary elevational view, with parts in section, of the coffee percolator of Fig. 2 on a reduced scale, in tilting position at the beginning of a pouring operation; Y

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to Fig. 11 with the percolator tilted substantially upside down position;

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to Figs. 11 and 12 with the all-glass cover shown in elevation, showing the position of the cover at the beginning of the operation of removing the same;

Fig. 14 is a similar view showing the cover in a position just removed from the mouth of the vessel; and

Fig. 15 is a fragmentaryrsectional view showing the invention applied to a sheet metal vessel and cover, such as a tea kettle and the like.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.

' Referring to Figure 1, a coffee percolator is shown therein including a sheet metal container .4 or vessel of circular cross section indicated at I6, having a pouring spout I'I at one side thereof. The usual basket I8 for containing ground coee is shown supported on the tube I9 having a base 2U, and the upper end of the tube I9 is positioned under a glass dome insert 2|, for discharging liquid coffee upwardly into the same. The glass dome insert 2| is shown mounted in a sheet metal cover 22, and may be held in place in said cover by means of an ordinary bayonet locking device, not shown. The coffee percolator is provided on the side opposite the pouring spout I1 with a suitable khandle 23.

The general' construction of the parts as thus fardescribed is well known and in accordance with common practice, and forms no part of the present invention. The construction of the lower p art of the cover 22 and of the mouth of the vessel IIV into which it fits, embodies the improvements of the present invention.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 4, the upper end of the container or vessel I6 is shown reduced in diameter or necked in at 24 to provide a mouth of smaller circumference. The upper edge of the mouth 24 is provided with a flange such as the usual'rolled bead 25, which is turned or rolled outwardly from the mouth 24 `throughout the one-half of the mouth periphery on the handle side of the mouth. On the spout side or pouring side of the mouth, the

bead 25 projects radially inward of the mouth 24 Y throughout the other one-half of its periphery.

Thus, as clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 6, the bead 25 is on the outside of the vmouth 24 throughout one-half its length or between the midpoints and the bead 25 is inside of the mouth 24 throughout the other one-half of its periphery between the points Thus, the bead 25' terminates, or changes from an inner bead to an outer bead, at the points 3:.

In forming the bead 25, 25 it may be rst formed on the outside of the mouth 24 throughout its entire periphery, and then rolled or pressed inwardly throughout one-half of its periphery on the pouring side of the mouth to form the bead 25'.

As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the shape or contour of the mouth 24 on the pouring side preferably is semi-circular, while the shape or contour of the mouth on the handle side is distorted in such manner that the entire periphery of the mouth is out-of-round or substantially oval or somewhat egg-shaped. Y

The distortion of the mouth 24 is such that adjacent to the points a: on the handle side the mouth is slightly widened, as shown at W, in a direction at right angles to the center line of the pouring spout I1, and the edge of the mouth on the handle side becomes somewhat flattened as shown at F. As shown in Fig. 6, the amount of the distortion of the mouth is such that the outer edge of the bead 25 at its widest parts overlies but does not overhang the circular periphery of the vessel I6 and the mouth opening has unequal widths in transverse directions.

As shown, in Figure 1, the cover 22 is of sheet metal with a glass dome insert, and as shown in Fig. 2, the cover 22a is of all-glass construction. The under surface of the all-glass cover 22a. is preferably provided with arcircular drip ring or rib 26 for the purpose of collecting liquid flowing downwardly along the dome 2Ia, and directing it downwardly. Y

The cover 22 hasan outer rim 21 which seats ongthe bead 25 and a depending flange 28 fitting within the mouth 2 1 of the vessel I6`; V and; the' cover 22a has-a similar rim 21a-and a dependingiiange-28a The construction of the outer-sur lits`r into -the pouring side of thelmuth `24"is provided. with a groove 29, 'substantially semicircular in cross sectionjwhiche'xtends entirely aroundvone-half ofthe flange and engages the bead-252 In other words,l the groove 29 extends between-the midpoints around thepouring side of the percolator, when the cover is in positionV thereon, and engagesthe bead 25 throughout its entire length, or substantially Athrougliout-onehalf'of the periphery of the cover.

As shown Ain Figs; 1 and 2, when the cover isin position with the groove 29 tightly engaged around and under the bead` 25Vy there is a substantial clearance between-the mouth 24 and the depending flangev 28 or 28a. at the sideopposite thefpouring spout l1, as-indicatedA at C, Referringto Fig. 5, in which thefdepending flange 28a is shownin dot-dash lines, this clearance is shownextending aroundl the handle side of the mouth 24Vand` becomesgradually less as it ap-v preachesv thepoints .r'until the outer surface of the depending flange begins to engage the bead 25 at the points w, as indicated in Fig. 7, and continues to engage the bead` 25 throughout-,its

length. Y

Thus, whenr it is desired to remove the cover 2-2 or' 22a/as viewed in Figs.` 5', 13' and 14, the cover isy moved slightly laterally to the right as permittedby the clearanceV C, Vwhereupon it-may be tilted slightly upwardly at the handle side as indicated at Fig. 13, the flange 28 or 28a being beveled or tapered slightly inwardv at 30 to'cl'ear the mouth. Then by a combined further lateral and upward YtiltingV movement, it may be removed as indicatedv in Figs. 13 and`14`.

fn using a coffee percolator having Vthe novel? cover construction, after 'the vessel! Ifo has beenY lil-led with the desired amount of water and the ground coffeepl'ac'ed in the 'basket I8', the cover 212 or 22a is applied'by engaging the groove 29 withfthe'headf 25', as shown in Fig. 13,- and then moving the opposite side ofthe cover downwar ly and to the left into the position of Fig. 21

Due tothe bevel" 3U' on the ange 28 or 28a and the yclearance C between the'flattened` portion of the iiange and the mouth on its handle side, ther cover slips into place very easily, providedlthec'over is properly oriented to register with the mouth. VBecause of the oval shape of the mouth 2A and of the depending flange 28 or 28a, the cover ,cank be appliedin only one axial position, which insures that it is in self-locking position when applied.

When the percolator with the cover in place is tiltedVY as indicated in Fig'. lil.' to pour its-conthe cover-fromfalling out until a substantially drops. vI-Iowever,--it is never 'necessa-ry"` to tilt the percola'tor' to such'an" extent; evenfthiigh they entire contentsare'f drained,

If the engagementof the groove- 29? with thevr bead 25 1stopped-shorter the emidpoints @that is, was lessY than throughout one-half-v ofthe periphery of the cover,- thefcover would?here` leasedy and fall shortly' after the peiclatoi' 'wastiltedpast a' horizontal :positions In f'ligl` A15, the novel cover construction is shown applied to alteakettle-'or the likesh'aving a sheet` metal vesselfor container. lbl W-th'laL pouring spout Hb. '-The mouthzthoff the' vessel 16h sV of the sal oval Shape-7 SES the-mouth- 24 of vessel E6', and has anvinn'er'head Zth.extend-y ing aroundon'eehalfA of its periphery 'oni tlipoureingv side. i The outer' bead-25o'- "extends around;

The cover 22e ispreferabiiy of sneetlmetal and.` has adependn'g flange28h 'ttinglfwithinl the' mouth 24o. The harige. 28o-Sirs# providedfwith a groove 29o' engaging under :the inner'Y bead 25's throughout its entire1periip'lierallength." I? Y Thus', the .novel cover construction has :a close ht to substantially eliminate rattling; has Ynov hinges, ears or similari proiections'irlto .mar its appearance and increaseits 'manufacturing cost; J is easily applied in self-locking position'without subsequent turning; andis just as easily'removed.

A vessel having theimproved coverr constructionfisinexpensivetd manufacture-,f attractive in appearancais easily' produced' in' a' standardu sheet metalV vessel; andi provides a-coveriwhichis self--klv locking while pouring and 'draining-fthe/contents of the vessel.`

In the foregoing description; icertairrtermshave r been usedfori-brevity,v clearnes's andunderstandf implied therefrom beyond'Y therequirements of the prior art,'because' such 4words-are utilized `for descriptive purposessh'erein and not for' thepurpose of 'limitation and are intended tov'be broadly construed.

Moreover, the embodiments "of lthe 'improved lconstruction. illust-rated and 'described' are 'by way of example, and thesco'p'ecf thel present invention is not limited tothe-eXact-de'tail ofv construction ofthe various parts'.

' inthe appendedclaims.

1. In al vesselv adapted for.v` pouring* from' onev side and having an open mouth: said 'mouth-being substantially semi-circularon'the :pouring side of the vessel and widened on theopposite'side of the vessel; an inner' bead on the: semi-circular portion of saidt rmouth extending;` around sub stantially one-half its periphery, a cover having a depending ange shaped for closely fitting in said mouth, said flange having a groove in its outer surface for engaging Aunder said bead throughout its length, and there being suilcient clearance between said flange and the remaining one-half of theperiphery of said mouth to permit removal of the cover by a combined lateral and upward tilting movement thereof.

2. In a vessel adapted for pouring from one side and having an open mouth, an inner bead extending around substantially one-half the periphery of said mouth on the pouring side of the vessel, the other half of said periphery being widened transversely of the pouring side, a cover having a depending iiange for closely fitting within said mouth, said flange having a groove in its outer surface for engaging under said bead throughout its peripheral length, and said iiange being spaced inwardly from said other half of said mouth a distance sufcient to permit removal of the cover by a combined lateral and upward tilting movement thereof.

3. In combination, 4a vessel adapted for pouring from one side and having an open mouth, a cover for said mouth, said mouth having an inner bead extending around one-half of its periphery on the pouring side of the vessel and being widened and flattened throughout the other oneialf of its periphery, said cover having a dependi g flange for fitting within said mouth, said flange having a groove in its outer surface for engaging under said bead and holding the cover in place while the vessel is tilted for pouring, and said flange being spaced inward-ly from the widened and attened portion of said mouth to permit movement of said cover in a direction away from said bead a distan-ce sufficient to permit removing the cover by tilting its opposite side upwardly.

4. In a vessel adapted for pouring from one side and having an open mouth, an inner b ead extending around substantially one-half the periphery of said mouth on the pouring side of the vessel, the other half of said periphery being widened transversely of the pouring side and iiattened on its opposite side, a cover having a depending flange for closely fitting within said mouth, said flange having a groove in its outer surface for engaging under said inner bead throughout its entire peripheral length, and said ange being spaced and beveled away from said flattened mouth portion to permit removal of the cover by a combined lateral and upward tilting movement thereof.

5. In combination, a vessel adapted for pouring from one side and having an open mouth, a cover for said mouth, said mouth having a bead around its upper edge, the bead projecting inwardly of the mouth throughoutl substantially one-half of its periphery on the pouring side of the vessel and projecting outwardly of the mouth throughout the other one-half of its periphery, said other one-half of said periphery being widened adjacent to the ends of said inner bead, said cover having a depending flange for closely iitting within said mouth, said flange having a groove in its cuter surface for engaging under said inner bead throughout its length, and said flange being spaced inwardly from the mouth on the side opposite to its pouring side sufficiently to permit removal of the cover by moving the same laterally and upwardly away from the pouring side of the mouth.

6. In kitchen utensil construction,y a sheet metal vessel having side walls terminating in a mouth formed with a continuous rolled bead,

said mouth having an out-of-round contour having unequal widths in transverse directions, said bead inwardly overhanging the mouth wall at one portion of the mouth opening and outwardly overhanging the mouth wall at an opposite portion of the mouth opening and merging from an inward overhanging bead to an outward overhanging bead between said opposite portions, a cover for said vessel having a contour matching the mouth wall contour formed with an outturned flange adapted to rest on said bead and with a depending iiange received within the mouth, said depending flange being formed with a groove engageable with said inwardly overhanging bead portion of the mouth and being beveled adjacent the outwardly overhanging bead portion of the mouth.

'7. In kitchen utensil construction, a vessel having side walls terminating in a mouth formed with an out-of-round contour having a rounded pouring portion land a flattened opposite portion, the mouth wall being formed with an inwardly overhanging flange along said rounded pouring portion, a cover for said vessel having an out-of-round contour matching the contour of the mouth and having a depending flange adapted to be telescoped within the mouth, said depending flange being formed with a groove engageable with said vessel flange and being beveled adjacent the flattened portion of the mouth.

8. In kitchen utensil construction, a vessel having side walls terminating in a mouth having' an out-of-round contour of unequal widths in transverse directions, inturned flange means at the top of the mouth wall along a portion of the mouth opening terminating adjacent the greatest width thereof, and a cover for said vessel having a contour matching the contour of the mouth formed with a depending flange telescopically received within the mouth, and said depending flange being formed with a groove engageable with said vessel iiange means.

9. In kitchen utensil construction, a vessel having side walls terminating in a mouth having an out-of-round contour with a rounded pouring portion and an opposite attened portion, a cover for said Vessel having a depending flange of contour matching the mouth wall contour adapted to -be received within the mouth, and interengageable formations on the mouth rounded pouring portion of the mouth wall and cover flange locking the cover to the vessel when the vessel is tilted for pouring therefrom.

ALFRED F. CURTIS. PAUL C. RIO-RICK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

